Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Computer Software

Lord Howarth of Newport: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take action to support users of software that is no longer supported by the original vendor, for example by requiring the release of the source code of unsupported software to a third party.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 software must be of satisfactory quality, which includes durability for a period a consumer can reasonably expect. If it is not, the consumer may be entitled to a remedy under the Act, for example, a repair or replacement of the software or, if this is not possible, the right to demand some money back. The Government has no plans to require the release of the source code of unsupported software to a third party.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

North Korea: Sanctions

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the US Treasury decision to impose sanctions on North Korean senior officials in the light of reported human rights abuses; and whether they plan to impose similar sanctions.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The US decision to designate senior members of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) regime follows its decision to introduce the US North Korea Sanctions Policy Enhancement Act in February 2016. The British Government shares the objective of maintaining pressure on the DPRK to fulfil its international human rights obligations and is deeply concerned by the human rights situation in the DPRK. It regularly consults with partners such as the US, the EU and regional partners on the best way to achieve this.

Guo Feixiong

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of China about the case of Guo Feixiong; and what response they have received.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The former Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), raised the case of Guo Feixiong with the Chinese Ambassador on 3 December 2015, who said the case was being handled according to Chinese law. More recently, we supported an EU statement on 22 June 2016. That statement called for Guo, along with several other individuals detained for seeking to protect the rights of others, such as their right to freedom of expression, to be released.We continue to monitor Guo’s case and report on it via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy. We will raise Guo’s case at the next round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue.

Burma: Ethnic Groups

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information they have about (1) land confiscation, (2) military activity, (3) health, (4) education, (5) drug use and its consequences, (6) local drug supply and drug use, (7) the killing of civilians, (8) arbitrary taxation, and (9) the displacement of villagers and forced recruitment, in Burma’s Karen state; and whether they plan to discuss those issues with the new government of Burma.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The British Government follows events in Burma's Karen State closely, including those listed in the noble Lord's question. Staff from our Embassy in Rangoon visit regularly. Many of these issues are connected to the legacy of conflict. We play a key role in international efforts to resolve the conflict across Burma. As part of these efforts, we have supported both the previous and current Governments of Burma, as well as the Ethnic Armed Groups that are party to the conflict (including the Karen), to find a negotiated political settlement. In addition, the Department for International Development (DFID) has a major development programme in Burma, of which Karen State is a beneficiary, including on health and education. For example, DFID works with several non-government organisations to fund programmes for the prevention and treatment of malaria which is prevalent in Karen State, and to establish community based schools and centres for early childhood development. The UK discusses conflict-related issues with the Government of Burma on a regular basis.

Philippines: Offences against Children

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of the Philippines regarding the enforcement of the Anti-Child Pornography Act 2009, in particular the provisions requiring internet service providers to filter and block images of child abuse.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Philippines is a committed partner in the WePROTECT Global Alliance and is serious about tackling child sexual exploitation online and offline. We have ongoing and regular dialogue with the Philippine Government on child sexual exploitation, including the implementation of the Anti-Child Pornography Act 2009. The Philippine Government is working to ensure the Act is fit for purpose. The Philippine Interagency Council against Child Pornography has requested that the Department of Justice order internet service providers to comply with the Act.In April 2016, the British Embassy participated in an Online Child Sexual Exploitation technical working group, hosted by the Philippine Committee for the Special Protection of Children. Experts from the Philippine Department of Justice, prosecutors, representatives from UNICEF, other diplomatic missions and foreign law enforcement also participated. The Act and other legislation formed part of the discussion. In June 2016, the National Crime Agency participated in further discussions on the Philippine Government’s strategy and the WePROTECT national model.We have supported the Philippine Government’s participation at the WePROTECT Summits in London and most recently in Abu Dhabi. The National Crime Agency also works closely with Filipino partners in the fight against child sexual exploitation and provides training on the forensic analysis of digital media.

Occupied Territories: Housing

Lord Judd: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the most recent Quartet Report's statement that Israel's "continuing policy of settlement and construction" was "steadily eroding the viability of the two-state solution", what specific actions they plan to take in response to the recent decisions by the government of Israel to approve new settlements and to provide a further $18 million to support settlements.

Lord Judd: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what specific action they are taking in response to the number of Israeli settlers in occupied Palestinian territories.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: On 5 July, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), issued a statement expressing deep concerns about the announcement of new Israeli settlement units in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesperson statement, on 22 June, also expressed concern about Israel’s decision to provide an additional £12 million of funding for settlements. The position of the UK on Israeli settlements is clear: they are illegal under international law, an obstacle to peace and make a two-state solution, with Jerusalem as a shared capital, harder to achieve. We will continue to raise our objections to settlements with the Israeli government.

South Sudan: Armed Conflict

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the renewed conflict in South Sudan, whether they plan to conduct further diplomatic efforts through regional channels and a further review of UK participation in the UN peacekeeping mission.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The United Kingdom welcomes the unified and strong response from regional leaders to help end the violence in Juba and secure a ceasefire. UK officials attended the 11 July meeting of Foreign Ministers in Nairobi and we continue to use our diplomatic network to encourage the region to put more pressure on South Sudan’s leaders to end the crisis.  The UK strongly supports UN peacekeeping and the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). We will continue to work closely with the UN’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations to determine how the UK can best provide support to the rapidly evolving situation in South Sudan.

Kashmir

Lord Ahmed: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of India about the reported killing and injuring of civilians by the Indian security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: I am deeply saddened by recent reports of unrest in Kashmir and offer my condolences to the victims and their families. Our High Commission in Delhi is monitoring the situation closely and we have updated our travel advice. We have not made any representations to the government of India on this issue.

Department for International Development

Horn of Africa: Refugees

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they and the UNHCR plan to take to protect Eritrean and Somali families now in Ethiopia, the Sudan, or South Sudan without legal status.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Irregular migrants in Africa are extremely vulnerable. We are working through the Khartoum Process, of which the UK is currently chair, and bilaterally to improve conditions for all migrants in the Horn of Africa. The Khartoum Process is a regional initiative bringing together the Governments of Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan and Libya and the EU, the UK, Italy, France, Germany and Malta to better manage migration in the region, including the protection of irregular migrants. The Khartoum Process is part of a plan of action agreed between African nations and the EU and its member states in Valletta in November 2015. The protection of migrant rights is a critical element of that plan. In Sudan, we are advocating through the Khartoum Process for increased rights for refugees in national legislation, including work permits for Eritreans in Sudan. Alongside this, DFID contributes through the European Development Fund to the €100 million EU Trust Fund (EUTF) package of Special Measures for Sudan, which aims to protect and address the development needs of refugees in Eastern Sudan. The EUTF has been supporting UNHCR and local law enforcement efforts over the past 18 months to make camps in the East of Sudan more secure. With this EU support, UNHCR also hosts a unit for unaccompanied minors (UM) in Shagarab Camp, which works to return them to their families in Eritrea wherever possible, houses them separately from other migrants in purpose built dormitories, and provides free meals for all the children. In April 2016, the UK together with World Bank and UNHCR signed up to a set of principles on programming to support long term refugees. These principles recommend increased support to a shift from relief provision for refugees towards a more sustainable approach. In line with this, DFID in Ethiopia is providing £125 million over the next five years for basic service and economic opportunities alongside protection programming, working with both refugees and host communities. Research into push and pull factors around migration also forms a part of DFID’s package of support.

St Helena: Aviation

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what meetings they have had with councillors from St Helena about the provision of air services to the island.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Minister Duddridge discussed the provision of air services to St Helena with Councillor Lawson Henry in December 2015. DFID officials work closely with the Governor of St Helena on all issues to do with air access to the island. The Governor is in regular direct contact with the Councillors on this issue.

South Sudan: Refugees

Lord Sheikh: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what humanitarian support and assistance they have (1) provided, and (2) plan to provide, for South Sudanese refugees in Sudan.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Since 2014, DFID Sudan has provided £10.4 million to address the humanitarian needs of South Sudanese refugees arriving in Sudan. The assistance has been in the areas of emergency food distribution, water and sanitation, education, and protection activities in the areas of White Nile State and Kordofan states. We are currently discussing with humanitarian partners in Sudan further contributions of approximately £3 million to be disbursed in the coming months. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide further support if required.

Iraq: Internally Displaced People

Lord Judd: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what support they are providing to the Kurdish authorities to help them cope with the number of people who have fled fighting in Iraq and are now displaced within the region.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: In response to the crisis in Iraq, since summer 2014 the UK has pledged £129.5 million of humanitarian support. This includes £50 million of additional assistance announced on 20 July 2016. To date, we have provided cash assistance, access to clean water, food, medicines and other life-saving assistance for the most vulnerable – irrespective of race, religion or ethnicity. This funding has supported the response in northern Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), as well as helping other vulnerable people across the country. Given the importance of a coordinated response, we have provided £1 million of funding to UNDP to support the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Joint Crisis Centre (JCC), as well as its equivalent for the Government of Iraq, the Joint Crisis and Monitoring Centre (JCMC). In close collaboration with the JCMC, the United Nations, donors and non-governmental organisations, the JCC is leading humanitarian efforts in the Kurdistan Region.

Iraq: Internally Displaced People

Lord Judd: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken to ensure that people from Iraq who have been displaced as a result of the current fighting in that country have access to assistance.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The UN’s latest assessment is that over 3.3 million Iraqis have been internally displaced, with over 10 million people across Iraq requiring some form of humanitarian assistance. The UK is working with the Government of Iraq, Kurdistan Regional Government, United Nations, and non-governmental organisations to make sure that humanitarian support is provided to the most vulnerable, including internally displaced persons (IDPs). Since summer 2014, the UK has pledged £129.5 million of humanitarian support for Iraq. This includes £50 million of additional assistance announced on 20 July 2016. Through our contribution, as the largest donor to the Iraq Humanitarian Pooled Fund, UK funding has helped a number of programmes supporting IDPs leaving Fallujah.

UN Population Fund

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the progress of the UN Population Fund Supplies programme.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: As with all programmes in which DFID invests, the UNFPA Supplies programme is subject to thorough Annual Reviews, which were conducted in December 2014 and again in December 2015. The programme has expanded from 12 to 46 focus countries and has been found to be achieving value for money in procurement of contraceptive commodities. The recommendations from these Annual Reviews are being taken forward with UNFPA.

Palestinians: Water Supply

Lord Turnberg: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 7 July 2016 (HL799), what discussion they have had with the Palestinian Authority about its non-attendance at meetings with Israeli officials on the Joint Water Committee.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Continuity of water supply to the West Bank is essential for both the basic needs of Palestinians and for stability and security more widely. The UK regularly raises the issue of water in the Occupied Palestinian Territories with the Palestinian Authority and Government of Israel. We encourage both parties to find a swift resolution to this issue and to reconvene the Joint Water Committee.

Department for Education

Pupils: EU Nationals

Baroness Goudie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the referendum on the UK membership of the EU, whether school children from other EU countries enrolled in British schools will be able to complete their education in the UK without interruption.

Lord Nash: As a matter of principle all children resident in the UK are entitled to receive a free state-school education. We want to reassure European citizens living in the UK that there will be no immediate changes in their circumstances.

Literacy: Young People

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to improve teenage literacy, in the light of the 2016 OECD report Building skills for all: A review of England, which stated that the UK has the lowest literacy rates among 16 to 19 year-olds out of 23 developed countries.

Lord Nash: We are pleased that the OECD recognises in their review the changes we have made in recent years to ensure that all young people leave full-time education with a high standard of English. The primary National Curriculum emphasises the teaching of early reading through systematic phonics and the importance of accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar. At secondary school pupils are expected to read a wide range of texts fluently and with good understanding. We have reformed GCSEs to ensure they are more stretching and provide greater assurance of core literacy than the old GCSE. We are also taking action to improve the rigour and relevance of English Functional Skills qualifications, which are taken by many students and apprentices aged 16 and over. To ensure all young people have every opportunity to secure proficiency in English, since 2014 we have required every 16-19 year old not holding a good pass in GCSE English and mathematics to continue to study these subjects as part of their 16-19 study programme. We have also embedded English and mathematics into our work-based training programmes such as apprenticeships and traineeships. Last summer’s GCSE results show that over 4,000 more students aged 17 and over secured GCSE English at grades A*-C than the previous year.

Pupils: EU Nationals

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the outcome of the referendum on the UK's membership of the EU, what steps they are taking to reassure young pupils from European backgrounds who fear that they may be forced to leave the UK.

Lord Nash: As a matter of principle all children resident in the UK receive a free state-school education. We want to reassure European citizens living in the UK that there will be no immediate changes in their circumstances.

Ministry of Justice

Asylum: Children

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to provide legal support to children already in the UK who wish to sponsor their parents to join them, and for other complex reunion cases.

Lord Keen of Elie: UK Visas and Immigration issues guidance to help applicants, and the types of evidence requested to accompany an application - such as marriage and birth certificates - will usually be straightforward to collate. For these reasons, there are currently no plans to make changes to the legal aid provision in such cases.

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Staff

Lord Touhig: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to review the impact of the proposed 30 per cent reduction in Ministry of Defence civilian staff as set out in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, in the light of the recommendation of the report of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy published in July.

Lord Touhig: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the proposed 30 per cent reduction in Ministry of Defence civilian staff as set out in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, what assessment they have made of the impact of that reduction on the formulation and delivery of policy.

Lord Touhig: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the proposed 30 per cent reduction in Ministry of Defence civilian staff as set out in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, what assessment they have made of the ability of the Ministry of Defence to deliver major programmes.

Earl Howe: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to meeting its obligations set out in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, including the aim to reduce our civilian workforce by 30 per cent. The Chief of Defence People has been appointed Senior Responsible Owner, and work is in hand within the single Services, Joint Forces Command, and other organisations within the MOD to develop detailed plans. As we develop these plans we will continually assess their impact to ensure that the Department continues to have the skills and capabilities required to deliver our Defence outputs, including policy development and management of major programmes.The Government will respond in due course to the report by the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy.

Armed Forces

Lord Touhig: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the level of recruitment forecast in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, what assessment they have made of the Armed Forces' ability to undertake the range of tasks they face.

Earl Howe: The Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 (SDSR 2015) ensured that investment in capability - including personnel - remained in balance with financial requirements, with a focus on matching capability to policy throughout the Review. To fully deliver future Defence commitments, the SDSR also set out plans for investment in an additional uplift of 400 personnel for the Royal Navy and 300 for the Royal Air Force. This will ensure that the Armed Forces continue to have the capabilities and skills needed to meet global obligations.

Armed Forces

Lord Touhig: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what spare capacity the Armed Forces have to respond flexibly and with resilience to unexpected emergencies.

Earl Howe: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is currently engaged in 23 operations around the world, which is above the historical norm for operational commitments. While delivering current operations, the MOD continually develops options for wider contingencies as risks to UK national interests emerge. Significant investment in a variety of critical enablers, both before and after the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, underpins our continued ability to meet demands both in the UK and overseas.

Red Arrows

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 12 July (HL921), what changes the Red Arrows offered to make to their original programme; and what, if any, safety advice was received by the Red Arrows and from whom.

Earl Howe: The Red Arrows did not offer to make any changes to their original, approved routine or display sequence. However, they did liaise with the event organisers, who are responsible for mitigating risks to those on the ground and those in boats in the local estuary, on where best to locate the display. To avoid flying over anyone in the estuary, the Red Arrows were prepared to display over the sea.The Red Arrows did not receive any safety advice specifically relating to a display at Fowey Regatta.

Armed Forces: Housing

Lord Richards of Herstmonceux: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to terminate the contract with CarillionAmey for service family accommodation, and if so, what plans they have for the service to be provided in-house.

Earl Howe: In response to the 'Get Well Plan' agreed with the Secretary of State for Defence in February, CarillionAmey's performance has improved. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is now seeking assurances that the performance improvements made are sustainable over the life of the contracts for which CarillionAmey is responsible. The MOD will continue to prepare contingency plans, for potential termination, in the event that sustained improvements are not made.

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Lord Richards of Herstmonceux: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the report by Sir John Chilcot on the Iraq War, whether they have any plans to reform the decision-making process within the Ministry of Defence and place the Armed Forces under the command of the Chief of Defence Staff.

Earl Howe: We are studying the report of the Iraq Inquiry in detail to identify how further to improve our structures, policies, procurement and training. Since 2010, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has implemented wide-ranging reforms to how it is structured and managed. This has clarified responsibilities, strengthened accountability and empowered the single Services. The Defence Secretary confirmed to the Defence Select Committee on 19 July that he has established a team to go through the report and make sure that the proper lessons are learned. This team will identify all of the areas where MOD needs to take action to improve its performance in the light of Sir John Chilcot's findings.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Agriculture: Subsidies

Lord Willoughby de Broke: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 17 June (HL446) and 27 June (HL808), whether when providing those answers they were aware that the payment window had already been extended to October, and if so, why that was not reflected in those answer.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The deadline for 2015 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments remains 30 June 2016 and as stated in the response of 17 June, this is the deadline the Rural Payments Agency was working towards for the remaining top up BPS payments. On 8 June, Commissioner Hogan confirmed his intention to extend the date by which Member States may make CAP direct payments without the usual reductions in the rate of reimbursement from the EU to the Member States concerned. This does not constitute an extension to the payment window. It means that, subject to a successful request, payments can continue to be made after 30 June without the application of the usual reductions for late payments on the Member State. We are currently assessing the UK position in terms of the value of payments made by 30 June and the expected value of payments to be made before 15 October for each of the four UK paying agencies. Once this assessment has been completed we will be in a position to decide whether the UK needs to submit a request to the Commission for such penalties to be waived.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Lord Willoughby de Broke: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 1 October 2015 (HL2378), in the light of the fact that a substantial number of Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments have not yet been made and that no date for completion of payments has been given, why they stated that the majority of BPS payments would be made in December 2015, and the vast majority by January.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) achieved the target of making the majority of BPS payments in December 2015, paying 44,408 (50.9%) of eligible claims by the end of December. The agency also delivered on its target of making the vast majority of payments by end of January, paying 66,800 (77%) of eligible claims with a value of around £1bn. The Government understands the importance of BPS payments for farmers. The targets, ‘majority’ and ‘vast majority’, were established in line with the RPA’s priority to pay as many farmers as possible, as quickly as possible, from the opening of the payment window back in December.

Home Office

Asylum

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to improve the quality of initial interviews and decisions in asylum cases in order to reduce the need for appeals.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Home Office carefully considers all asylum claims on their individual merits and grants protection for those who genuinely need it, in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights. In every asylum case the particular circumstances of the individual is considered in light of published country information.All asylum decision-makers receive extensive training on how to consider asylum claims and are expected to follow published Home Office policy guidance. The 5-week Foundation Training Programme (FTP) for new decision makers trains staff on all aspects of the asylum decision making process. All decision makers are currently receiving credibility training. This course trains decision makers on how to assess the evidential value of their interview questions, the various reasons why someone may not come across as credible in an asylum interview and discusses issues such as speculation and implausibility. Asylum decision-makers carefully assess the protection needs of each asylum claimant following an interview by assessing all available evidence provided by the claimant in light of published country information and policy guidance. The Home Office systematically assesses the quality of asylum decisions against a detailed quality audit framework drawn up and agreed with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.We expect asylum claimants to disclose all relevant evidence to support their claim at the earliest opportunity so that we can properly consider their claim. We aim to reduce the appeal rate by analysing the reasons why appeals are allowed and using this to further improve guidance and training. We are committed to continuous improvement.

Asylum: Children

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to enable child refugees and migrants who are now in France but who have close relatives in the UK to make take-charge requests.

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan (1) urgently to meet with the government of France and the UNHCR to set up systems for providing reliable information for refugees and migrants in Calais and Dunkirk; and (2) to take steps to ensure that the Dublin III Regulations work for family reunion.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: As stated in Written Answer HL649 on 27 June under the UK-France Joint Declaration of 20 August 2015 the UK and France have committed to ensur-ing that provisions of the Dublin III Regulation are used efficiently and effectively. To assist the handling of such cases, the two Governments have established a permanent official contact group, agreed single points of contact within respective Dublin Units and a UK asylum expert was seconded to the French administration earlier this year to facilitate the improvement of all stages of the process.We continue to work closely so that both the UK and France can fulfil our re-spective obligations under the Dublin Regulation to family members, including unaccompanied children, who qualify for transfer to the UK under the Regula-tion’s family unity provisions.The UK and France are running regular joint communication campaigns in northern France which inform unaccompanied children and others of their right to claim asylum in France and the family reunion process. Whilst the management of migrants in Calais is the responsibility of the French Govern-ment, the UK recognises that vulnerable people in the camps are at risk from exploitation and trafficking. This is why the UK Government funds a project, run by a French NGO, to identify and direct vulnerable people to protection, support and advice within France.

Immigration Controls: Newcastle upon Tyne

Lord Steel of Aikwood: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in order to welcome tourists to Scotland and the North of England, they plan to instruct the Border Agency to reduce its processing time of vehicles at Newcastle arriving off the ferry from Amsterdam.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Border Force has carried out a significant transformation programme at Port of Tyne to improve border security and customer service. Joint investment with the port operator in new infrastructure has significantly reduced passenger processing times and the port operator has confirmed a noticeable improvement compared to previous years.

Cabinet Office

Privy Council

Lord Lexden: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the size of the Privy Council on 13 July; and how many appointments had been made to it up to that date since 11 May 2010.

Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen: The information is set out in the table below. DateNumber of Privy Counsellors13th July 2016657Appointments since 11th May 2010179

Department of Health

Stem Cells

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Prior of Brampton on 11 July (HL859), why they do not routinely monitor the timing of the publication of any scientific papers describing the derivation of stem cells; and what assessment they have made of what the maximum time interval should be between publication of any scientific papers describing the derivation of stem cells and the deposit of corresponding samples in the UK Stem Cell Bank.

Lord Prior of Brampton: The UK Code of Practice for the Use of Human Stem Cell Lines does not require monitoring of the timing of scientific publications arising from the derivation of stem cell lines. A copy of the Code of Practice is attached.



Code of practice for the use of human stem cell
(PDF Document, 487.12 KB)

Health: Poverty

Baroness Hollins: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made, or are planning to make, of the cost to the health service of poverty-related ill health.

Lord Prior of Brampton: The Department has not made, and is not planning to make, an estimate of the cost to the health service of poverty related ill health. However, in 2008 the Department commissioned Professor Michael Marmot of University College London to chair an independent strategic review of health inequalities in England from 2010. The Review, Fair Society, Healthy Lives, estimated that, in 2010, direct NHS healthcare costs in England associated with treating the consequences of inequality amounted to £5.5 billion per year for treating acute illness, mental illness and prescriptions. This estimate does not cover all health service activity, including primary care costs. The review also estimated the wider costs of health inequalities, with £31-33 billion worth of productivity losses resulting from inequalities in illness, and between £20-32 billion in lost taxes and higher welfare payments. A copy of the review has been placed in the Library.

Smoking

Lord Young of Cookham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of the lower life expectancy of those on low incomes is due to the higher rates of smoking in that group.

Lord Prior of Brampton: The independent review into health inequalities in England undertaken by Professor Sir Michael Marmot culminated in the publication in 2010 of Fair Society, Healthy Lives. A copy of the review has been placed in the Library. The review identified the most effective evidence-based strategies for reducing health inequalities in England and made the following recommendation: “Tobacco control is central to any strategy to tackle health inequalities as smoking accounts for approximately half of the difference in life expectancy between the lowest and highest income groups. Smoking-related death rates are two to three times higher in low-income groups than in wealthier social groups.”

HIV Infection: Drugs

Lord Cashman: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had on access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and the Department of Health’s role in ensuring that NHS England provides continuity of access to PrEP to those currently using the drug.

Lord Prior of Brampton: The PROUD trial participants continue to receive pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) at the current time. We are working with Public Health England to ensure that the on-going needs of these individuals are taken into account in planning for the PrEP trial sites in which NHS England has agreed to invest up to £2 million.

Children: Social Networking

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have conducted any research into the possible mental and psychological impact on children of using Twitter and Facebook; and if not, whether they plan to do so.

Lord Prior of Brampton: The Department does not itself conduct research, but funds research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the Department’s Policy Research Programme (PRP). The NIHR and the PRP have not funded specific research into the possible mental and psychological impact on children of using Twitter and Facebook and have no plans to commission research on this topic. In 2014-15 (the latest year for which data is currently available), the NIHR invested £72.6 million in research in mental health, including the mental health of children.

Doctors: Migrant Workers

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to implement English language checks on doctors who have come from other EU countries to test their knowledge of clinical English rather than general social English.

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of doctors from other EU countries who have inadequate clinical English language skills.

Lord Prior of Brampton: In June 2014 the General Medical Council (GMC) was given powers to carry out proportionate language controls on all applicants from the European Economic Area (EEA) to ensure that doctors have the necessary English language skills to practise safely in the United Kingdom. In addition the GMC was given powers to take fitness to practise action if a doctor working in the UK has insufficient language skills to carry out their job safely. Doctors must register with the GMC to practise in the UK. Since June 2014 a total of 1,659 doctors from the EEA have been unable to demonstrate to the GMC that they have sufficient language skills to practise safely in the UK; 564 of those doctors have gone on to reach the standard required by the GMC and have been issued with a licence to practise.

Obesity: Children

Lord Pendry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they plan to publish their strategy on tackling child obesity; and whether that strategy will include a commitment to children taking part in sports activity, as well as the monitoring and regulation of the advertising of sugary products.

Lord Prior of Brampton: Our forthcoming Childhood Obesity Strategy will look at everything that contributes to a child becoming overweight and obese. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet will be working over the coming days and weeks to establish their priorities and how we deliver on these commitments.

Out-patients

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they are making in ensuring that the NHS collects data on whether return out-patient appointments are being delayed beyond the clinically recommended time due to insufficient capacity or targets for new patients that are prioritised over returns.

Lord Prior of Brampton: There are no plans to collect additional data on out-patient appointments. Many patients will require further planned stages of treatment after their waiting time clock has stopped. This treatment should be undertaken without undue delay and in line with when it is clinically appropriate and convenient to the patient to do so. Patients requiring initial or follow-up appointments for clinical assessment, review, monitoring, procedures or treatment must be given a clear expectation of the timeframe for this, as required by best clinical evidence. If the planned procedure is then delayed beyond that timeframe, a new waiting time clock should start and be reported in the waiting time statistics, to ensure that these patients are kept in sight.

Female Genital Mutilation

Lord Smith of Hindhead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many women have been admitted to hospital in England and Wales as a result of female genital mutilation in each year between 2010 and 2015.

Lord Prior of Brampton: This information is not available in the format requested.

Blood: Contamination

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they provide a lower level of support for the surviving partners of those infected by hepatitis C through contaminated blood, compared to the surviving partners of those infected by HIV or co-infected, and if so, why.

Lord Prior of Brampton: Under the reformed ex-gratia payment scheme for infected blood announced on 13 July 2016, the partner/spouse at the time of death of a primary beneficiary will be entitled to a £10,000 one-off lump sum where HIV or hepatitis C infection contributed to the death of their partner/spouse. This will apply to those already bereaved, provided they register before the end of this financial year. Anyone newly bereaved from this year will automatically receive the lump sum. Discretionary support, in an enhanced form from financial year 2018/19, will continue to be available to all bereaved partners/spouses.

HIV Infection: Drugs

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what powers the Secretary of State has to direct NHS England to commission the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis.

Lord Prior of Brampton: Work on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is on-going and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been asked to conduct an evidence review of Truvada for PrEP in groups at high risk of HIV. The NICE evidence summary will inform a pilot programme that will see £2 million invested over the next two years to target those at highest risk of HIV. This evidence review and pilot programme signifies the next steps forward and will inform any subsequent decisions about commissioning PrEP.

HIV Infection: Drugs

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what modelling has been undertaken to investigate the effect of pre-exposure prophylaxis being made available to homosexual men to prevent the transmission of HIV, and what were the results of that modelling in terms of lives saved, healthy years gained and savings to the NHS and other public services.

Lord Prior of Brampton: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is developing an evidence summary on the use of Truvada for pre-exposure prophylaxis that is expected to be published in the autumn. The evidence summary will consider the evidence for effectiveness, safety, patient factors and resource implications.

HIV Infection: Health Services

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much was spent on treatment by AIDS and HIV services in 2011–12, 2012–13 and 2013–14.

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much has been spent on AIDS and HIV services by local authorities in 2011–12, 2012–13 and 2013–14.

Lord Prior of Brampton: According to National Health Service data, the following is the estimated expenditure in relation to HIV treatment and care services: 2011-12 - £642 million2012-13 - £630 million2013-14 - £570 million Data for financial years 2011/12 and 2012/13 are from NHS programme budgeting estimates. Data for financial year 2013/14 are a combination of programme budgeting estimates and NHS England expenditure data on specialised services. Data between these years are not comparable, as responsibility for the commissioning of some services relating to HIV and AIDS and related public health services transferred from primary care trusts (PCTs) to local authorities on 1 April 2013, and are therefore excluded from NHS figures from this date forward. In addition, price reductions and the availability of generic HIV medicines has seen the per patient spend on treatment reduce in 2013/14, despite an overall increase in the number of patients requiring care and treatment. In addition, data between these years are not comparable, as responsibility for the commissioning of some services relating to HIV and AIDS and related public health services transferred from PCTs to local authorities on 1 April 2013, and are therefore excluded from NHS figures from this date forward. Information on spend by local authorities on HIV prevention is not collected centrally. Public Health Resource Allocation (RA) returns from local authorities identified £82,658,000 was spent on sexual health advice, prevention and promotion in 2015/16 and some of this funding will have been allocated to HIV prevention activities.

HIV Infection: Health Services

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much has been spent by Public Health England on AIDS and HIV services in 2012–13, 2013–14 and 2014–15.

Lord Prior of Brampton: Since 2013, AIDS and HIV treatment and care services have been commissioned by NHS England specialist commissioning groups. Between 2012 and 2015, national HIV prevention activities were funded by the Department. The information is shown in the following table. YearSpendJuly 2012- March 2013£1,835,5002013/2014£2,450,0002014/2015£2,450,000

Cancer: Medical Treatments

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the fact that some NHS Trusts are no longer required to meet the 62-day cancer treatment target in terms of survival rates of different types of cancer.

Lord Prior of Brampton: The cancer waiting times standards have not changed. All trusts are still required to meet the 62-day standard.